William Shatner, best known for his role as Captain Kirk in the “Star Trek” television series and movies, recorded a version of Bobby Troup’s “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” for his new blues album.
The song includes guitarist Steve Cropper, who played with Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Booker T & the MGs and many other artists on the Stax-Volt label in Memphis during the 1960s and ’70s. Later on, he was part of the backing band for The Blues Brothers.
Here’s 89-year-old Shatner’s take on the song, which he doesn’t so much sing as talk through it in his on inimitable fashion:
Shatner’s new album, titled “The Blues,” contains many classic tunes and guest turns from other guitar hotshots such as James Burton, Albert Lee, Ritchie Blackmore, Sonny Landreth, Brad Paisley, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Pat Travers.
Here’s the full album on Spotify:
You also can order the album on Amazon here.
This wouldn’t be Shatner’s first excursion on Route 66, at least figuratively. He showed up on the “Route 66” television drama during the early 1960s.
Shatner also literally appeared on Route 66 in 2015 during an ill-fated tour of a futuristic motorcycle from Rivet Motors. The prototype had trouble even staying on the road, so much of its Mother Road journey was on a flatbed trailer instead.
(Cover image of William Shatner’s “The Blues” album)